GoKawiilAfter getting my Galaxy Z Flip 8 review unit, I did something I haven’t normally done when switching from iPhone to Android: I used the updated Samsung Smart Switch app to transfer my personal data from my iPhone to the Android phone. This improved process has made it much easier to transition my habits and conversations, which is often a major pain point when switching.
I regularly swap from iPhone to Android when reviewing devices, a process that’s usually so cumbersome and prone to breaking my chats that I typically prefer to just set up an Android phone from stock or rollover a prior Android backup.
But as part of Samsung’s July Unpacked event, where the company unveiled the $1,200 Z Flip 8 alongside the $1,900 Z Fold 8 and $2,100 Z Fold 8 Ultra, the company said that its Smart Switch app now works natively with iOS 26’s new Transfer to Android feature. And compared with the old way – where you also needed to install Smart Switch on an iPhone and hope your data made its way over – this new process is significantly streamlined and transferred more than I expected.
The iPhone and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 connect directly for the switching process. Joseph Maldonado/CNET
Apple’s iPhone is now directly involved
It’s strange that the iPhone can now directly help when switching to an Android phone, but Apple’s direct assistance appears to be key to bringing over so much of my data more easily than before.
As with many Android phone setup processes, after first booting up the device, I selected the option to transfer from an iPhone. Historically, the next step would be hardwiring the phones together with a cable. Instead, Samsung directs you to open the Settings menu on an iPhone, select Transfer to Android, and a QR code scan connects the phones wirelessly.
The iPhone connects directly to the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and prompts you to continue the setup process there. Mike Sorrentino/CNET
On the iPhone, I opted to only transfer my text message history and app data, since information like my photos, videos and contacts is already synced through Google services and will automatically appear on an Android phone. iOS then prompted me to continue the process from the Android phone, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 started showing transfer progress as it received my data from the iPhone.
The process wasn’t completely seamless: after 15 minutes, I received a message saying the transfer failed and I should try again. Despite the warning, it had indeed worked — my data had rolled over, and the phone was already downloading the Google Play equivalents to my iPhone apps. Even better, the home screen already had its apps organized identically to how I had my iPhone home screens laid out, and replaced apps like Apple Health and the Apple Watch app with Samsung equivalents. I did need to add weather and calendar widgets, but not having to rearrange my home screens is a big time-saver whenever I swap phones.
... continue reading